"Brother Cheng, you're finally back, Ming'er Academy is closed, let's go fishing in the Wuzhang River outside the city."

Cheng's stone shop, Wang Qin walked through the front hall as before, came to the backyard with a familiar car, and greeted loudly.

As soon as Wang Qin entered the backyard, he saw that Cheng Yuguan, who had always shrunk in the house a few days ago, was actually in the yard, and he was suddenly a little cramped, and he straightened his clothes before he opened his legs again.

When I walked to Cheng Yuguan's table, I saw that Cheng Yuguan still had a stack of local chronicles and account books in front of him.

"I have seen Miss Cheng busy twice in three times, and she is always so diligent, which really makes me feel ashamed."

Cheng Yuguan closed the local chronicle of Yu County in his hand and looked at the scholar in front of him.

Two years have passed, and the scholar who was a little reckless at the beginning has grown a lot taller, wearing a light-colored lanthanum shirt all the year round, covering his head with a cloth towel of the same color, and his eyebrows and eyes are spreading, which is a gentle and smiling appearance.

He and his third cousin Cheng Lang are both literate and martial, but they unexpectedly get along.

A few days ago, the third cousin Cheng Lang went to Yangzhou to check the accounts of the branch, and he just came back yesterday, and Wang Qin came to the door today.

"My cousin is in the clan, and he will come in a moment. Wang Gongzi waited. ”

As he spoke, Cheng Yuguan put away the book on the table and put it on his arm, turned around and prepared to go back to the house to make room for Wang Qin and his cousin.

"Alas," Wang Qin called Cheng Yuguan, "Miss Cheng doesn't need to be so polite, the sun is finally out today, Miss Cheng can sit here for a while, I'll say a word to Brother Cheng and leave." ”

Cheng Yuguan turned back with the book, and before he could speak, he walked out and laughed.

"Brother Qin still calls my little sister to be formal, we have been in Tongcheng for almost two years, aren't you still called "Miss Cheng"? I think you're half-pounded and eighty-tael. ”

Cheng Yuguan listened to the ridicule of his third cousin, and couldn't help but glare at Cheng Lang.

Wang Qin's cheeks were slightly red, and he scratched his head, "This is not good Meng Lang..."

Cheng Lang stepped forward and hugged this brother who had been dating for two years, "You have a relationship with me, my sister is your sister, why don't you call me "little sister"." ”

Cheng Lang proposed, Wang Qin listened and waved his hand again and again, "It's not appropriate, it's better to call Miss Cheng." ”

Cheng Yuguan saw that Wang Qin was uncomfortable, and glared at the third cousin, "Wang Gongzi is shy, third brother, stop joking." You sit down and talk, and I'll go into the house. ”

After speaking, without waiting for the two of them to say anything, he went straight back to his room.

Cheng Yuguan turned around and entered the house, and Wang Qin dared to stare at the back with his eyes.

As Wang Qin's good friend, how could Cheng Lang not know Wang Qin's thoughts. But first, my little sister is quiet and deep, and she likes to dress up solemnly and generously, to put it bluntly, it is very distance-sensitive, and the first impression of ordinary people is that they can only be seen from a distance. Wang Qin is usually fine, but he will be more restrained in the face of women, so the two of them have been polite every time they see each other for nearly two years, so that Cheng Lang is watching from the side, and they feel tired for the two of them.

patted Wang Qin on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit down, Wang Qin retracted his gaze and smiled embarrassedly.

Seeing this, Cheng Lang lifted the teapot on the stove next to him and poured a cup of hot tea for Wang Qin.

Although it was already March, the weather warmed up very slowly, and the air was chilly.

"Brother Cheng, I'm here today to go fishing with you. The river outside the city is beginning to melt, and the cold-water fish is when it is delicious. ”

Jingzhou is much warmer than the north, but because of its proximity to Yuzhou, there will be some cold snaps in winter. In the event of a cold winter, the river will freeze.

Hearing about fishing, Cheng Lang was naturally happy. He is a person who likes to be lively, he has been in Jingzhou for two years, and he has made some friends locally, and the best friendship is naturally Wang Qin, who he met by accident.

"Okay, Ming'er will go fishing together. After a while, I asked my little sister if she was going. It's okay in the north, but the little sister in Tongcheng will be afraid of winter. She hasn't been out much in a month or two, maybe she's willing to go, and who else is going, I'll see how it is arranged. ”

When Wang Qin heard this, of course he was happy, and counted the people who went with Ming'er one by one, "There are only a few classmates in the academy, Dong Wenping, and Zou Yunming." ”

Hearing Dong Wenping's name, Cheng Lang frowned.

Dong Wenping's family is a gentleman in Tongcheng Township, and he is a little arrogant, except for Wang Qin and a few other students who were praised by Mr. Academy, he didn't pay attention to anyone.

Cheng Lang and Cheng Yuguan came to Tongcheng from the north to do business, and everyone only knew that their Cheng family was friendly with the local garrison, but they didn't know anything else.

Dong Wenping felt that the Cheng family was just a businessman, and he repeatedly acted as a demon in front of Cheng Lang. If it weren't for Wang Qin's face, Cheng Lang wouldn't even pay attention to Dong Wenping.

"Brother Dong is just a little arrogant, but he is not bad. Ming'er came with him, as well as the son of the Cao family of Tongcheng Xuezheng, who was brought by Brother Dong, and he was about to take the imperial examination, and Brother Dong also took great pains. You and Miss Cheng are doing stone business in Tongcheng, and you can also make friends with the local Cao Jiao. Cao Jiaoyu has a lot of friends in Jingzhou, and they write poems and plaques for the new homes of many businessmen and wealthy families every year. ”

Seeing that Wang Qin was thinking about himself, Cheng Lang thought for a moment and decisively agreed.

They are all men, and they are more broad-minded. If you are a little unhappy, you will treat it as if you don't see it, and it is important to get down to business. But forget it, little sister, she doesn't have to suffer this grievance.

Cheng Lang made up his mind.

The next day, Cheng Lang cleaned up and went out of the city, and Cheng Yuguan sat at the back of the store as usual.

"Brother Cheng!"

Go out of the city and go north, but only five miles, there is a river flowing out of the mountain, the river is not deep, and it is crystal clear. Xu is the river surface is civilized, and from time to time there is a thin fish swimming from the bottom of the river, which makes people very hot in the eyes of anglers.

Wang Qin greeted Cheng Lang on the flat ground by the river.

They came out in a carriage, and Cheng Lang rode a horse, so they moved separately and joined up at the river.

There were more than a dozen people by the river, and when they saw Cheng Lang bringing people over on horseback, a few pouted.

"Brother Wang."

Cheng Lang just didn't see someone pouting, and got off the horse and walked to Wang Qin.

Wang Qin naturally didn't see the situation of the people behind him, and when he saw Cheng Lang coming by himself, although he was a little disappointed, he still adjusted quickly, and a smile appeared on his face, "Brother Cheng, come on, the fine-scale fish in this river is a spring delicacy, let's catch a few more today." ”

Cheng Lang had a smile on his face, and was about to speak, but he heard someone muttering on the side, "The martial artist from the north, what flavor does he know, and does he know what a fine-scaled fish is?" ”

Cheng Lang looked over and was about to speak, but Wang Qin hurriedly matched, "Brother Dong, don't talk like that, everyone is in Tongcheng, and they will be brothers when they go out in the future." Brother Cheng, Brother Dong just speaks straight, and he doesn't have any bad intentions. ”

Wang Qin appeased on both sides, Dong Wenping pursed his lips, and Cheng Lang chuckled, no one looked down on anyone.

Seeing that the atmosphere was embarrassing, Wang Qin hurriedly introduced to everyone, "Brother Cheng, this is Cao Shiyou, the son of Cao Jiaoyu, next to him, is the son of Jingzhou Xuezheng, Liu Zeming and Liu Gongzi, Liu Gongzi followed his father from the capital, maybe he and you can have some common topics." ”

Wang Qin actively introduced his friends to Cheng Hou.

Cao Shiyou just nodded slightly. Cao Jiaoyu has no grade and no rank, but it is highly sought after by scholars and county officials and squires in the local area, because there were countless classmates and friends back then, and some even made it to the six departments of Beijing.

At present, Liu Zeming and Liu Gongzi's father, Liu Xuezheng, is from the place below the official in Jingzhong, and he is appointed as Jingzhou Xuezheng.

In this way, Cao Shiyou is naturally more arrogant and disdainful of talking to Cheng Lang and a businessman.

Although Liu Zeming is a noble man from the capital, he is the most peaceful, seeing Cheng Lang's dignified appearance, and the horses under the seat look mighty, he can't help but talk, "I heard Brother Wang say that Brother Cheng is also from the Northland, where is his hometown?" ”

Cheng Lang has been doing business in various places for many years, so he naturally knows that the sedan chair carries people, and he can still say a few words on the scene.

"The hometown and the state are not as prosperous as the capital."

"Merge states?"

Hearing the merger, Liu Zeming's heart moved.

General Cheng, who has been hot in the capital in the past two years, is from Bingzhou, and Cheng Lang is surnamed Cheng, so I don't know what the relationship between the two is.

I wanted to ask again, but Cao Shiyou walked to Liu Zeming's side, "Brother Liu, the Cheng family's stone shop is in the city, and you don't have to be in a hurry if you want to talk." But now that the fish are swimming one after another, it would be a pity if you don't set up a fishing rod. ”

Cao Shiyou said this, Liu Zeming had no choice but to put away the idea of talking and inquiring and fishing first.

Nowadays, except for the capital, there is no entertainment in other places. The literati are nothing more than poetry societies, where three or five friends gather together, chant poems against each other, vassals are elegant, and warriors love to hunt and go out of the city to chase on horseback. In addition, some leisurely people love fishing, which is not divided into civil and military affairs. A single rod can pass the time of the whole day, from top to bottom, everyone loves it.

Soon, several people set up their fishing rods, stopped talking, and the subordinates also sent them away, saving them from fishing.

Fishing is a job that requires patience, Wang Qin has good luck today, maybe he is calm, so he catches fish from time to time, and Cheng Lang occasionally catches one, and he is also comfortable. Only Dong Wenping, since he came, has not yet fished, and his heart has become more and more anxious.

He was originally sitting between Cao Shiyou and Wang Qin, and when he saw Wang Qin shouting happily and catching another one, he was so ruthless that he threw a fishing rod at Wang Qin.

Cheng Lang was watching Wang Qin show off the fish in his hand, he was behind Wang Qin, and saw a fishing rod with a bright hook thrown towards Wang Qin, and the sharp hook would be thrown at Wang Qin if he was not careful.

If it's just an injury, if it's hooked to the head and face and the face is broken, it will be a big deal to delay Wang Qin's imperial examination.

Cheng Lang's eyes were quick, and he dragged Wang Qin to his side, and in a hurry, the bucket containing the fish that Wang Qin caught was knocked over.

Wang Qin didn't know what to do, and the sound of "oops" attracted the attention of Cao Shiyou and Liu Zeming next to him.

As soon as the two turned around, they saw that the hook on Dong Wenping's fishing rod was shining with cold light, passing over Wang Qin's head, but he didn't catch his head.

The two couldn't help but exclaim.

Seeing that everyone was attracted by his own rod, Dong Wenping put away the color on his face, quickly put away the hook, and looked at Wang Qin with a worried face, "Brother Wang, how are you?" It's all my fault, I was impatient just now, and I was a little more anxious to shake the rod, I still have an astragalus at home, which is an old medicine for many years, and I will send it to you when I go back to make up for the fright just now. ”

Wang Qin's family is an ordinary scholarly family, and his father is also a showman, and he opened a private school, which is specially designed for children. The mother is not in good health and needs astragalus and other medicinal materials to replenish qi all year round.

Dong Wenping said this, there were a few people who didn't have much, except for Liu Zeming, who didn't know what was going on, and the others couldn't help frowning.

This Dong Wenping is just a yin and yang weird on weekdays, and this mistake is okay, but after the mistake, he didn't sincerely apologize, but he was still yin and yang, which made people uncomfortable.

Dong Wenping can't look down on himself, Cheng Lang can bear it, it's just a big deal not to communicate. But when he said this about Wang Qin, Cheng Lang's temper couldn't help it.

took a step forward and blocked Wang Qin behind him, Cheng Lang glared at Dong Wenping with big eyes, "Apologize to Brother Qin!" ”

Dong Wenping still looked like a hanger, "I didn't mean to, besides, didn't I apologize just now?" Wang Qin? You tell me? ”

Wang Qin subconsciously persuaded Cheng Lang, "Forget it, Brother Cheng, isn't it okay for me?" ”

Cheng Lang turned his head, "You didn't see it, the fish hook brushed your head, if it hooked your ears and there was a piece of meat missing, where could you still participate in the imperial examination?" ”

Wang Qin was afraid.

Glancing at Dong Wenping, he still had a smiling face, a look of what can you do to me, Wang Qin sighed, "Forget it, Brother Cheng." Isn't it thanks to you, don't be angry, I'll catch a few more in a while and bring them back to you. Delicious in front, don't be in a bad mood for the sake of the side. ”

Cheng Lang heard Wang Qin say this, took a deep breath, and didn't toss anymore.

If it was near Chengjia Village, she would have to go over with a fist and let that person know who couldn't be messed with. But the Dong family is a local squire, and he can leave Tongcheng if he beats someone, but the Wang family still has to make a living in Tongcheng. Especially the royal father's private school, if you want to accept students locally, you will leave Tongcheng to go elsewhere, and people will not necessarily recognize it.

Dong Wenping also takes a fancy to this, he doesn't mess with someone with status like the Cao family, and if he has force and money like Cheng Lang, he won't be easily provoked if he doesn't look down on it, but he just loves to catch Wang Qin and bully.

After every bullying, you have to pretend that you didn't see it, and then compensate for a little good. It's obviously a slap in the face to give a sweet date.

If it weren't for Wang Qin's good knowledge and respect, I am afraid that Wang Qin would not have received this little bit of false apology.

Seeing that Cheng Lang really let go of his fist, Dong Wenping laughed stupidly, he knew that he was just a businessman, and he just made a show for Wang Qin, even if he really wanted to fight, he wouldn't dare to borrow his guts.

Dong Wenping became more and more proud in his heart, and the more he couldn't control it, "Wang Qin, don't stop Cheng Lang next time, who do I think he dares to move?" A businessman, mixed in with us and other scholars, still dare to do it? Don't take your set of habits from the rivers and lakes, they are all clear-eyed people, who is afraid of fake tricks? Do you have the ability to really move me to try? ”

Tongcheng is a small place, Dong Wenping is so big, he has never been out of Tongcheng, for the sake of the Dong family, no one really cares about Dong Wenping.

Today, a "noble son" from the capital came over, and Dong Wenping was impatient, wanting to show his Dong family's status in Tongcheng in front of Liu Zeming. So he became more and more arrogant than usual.

But this time Dong Wenping can be regarded as messing with the wrong person. Cheng Lang grew up in Bingzhou, where the people believe in the power of fists.

Hearing Dong Wenping talking cool again, Cheng Lang used a lot of force to break free from Wang Qin, and went up with a fist, pressing Dong Wenping under him and beating him.

Dong Wenping's family wanted to come over, but was stopped by the Cheng family, and could only watch his son-in-law being beaten and screaming again and again.

Wang Qin, Cao Shiyou, and Liu Zeming were stunned for a moment before they reacted and hurriedly went up to stop them.